Udagamandalam or famously known as Ooty is a popular hill station located in the western ghats of Tamil Nadu. Tucked between the magnificent beauty of Nilgiri Hills, Ooty along with Kotagiri and Coonoor makes the Golden Triangle of Nilgiris. So, a visit to Ooty will introduce the beauty of tea estates, the diversity of plants & flowers at the botanical garden, magnificent views of Nilgiris from Doddabetta peak, amazing waterfalls, ancient Toda tribe at Todda village, scenic lake beauty and many more. But to make your Ooty trip memorable you would need a perfect itinerary that makes sure you’re at the right place at right time. So, here we shared the perfect Ooty itinerary for 4 days that make sure you’ll have the best time in Ooty –
Why Visit Ooty?
Ooty is a perfect place to visit for different kinds of vacations including family trips, backpacking trips, or honeymoons. Surrounded by the lush green beauty of Nilgiri hills, Ooty has no dearth of places to visit including tea estates, a government botanical garden, rose garden, Doddabetta peak, tiger hills, Nilgiri mountain railway and many more. And the proximity to Kotagiri and Coonoor gives you the options that everyone looking for vacation.
Best Time To Visit Ooty
Situated at an elevation of 2240 meters, Ooty is blessed with a pleasant climate throughout the year. However, October to May is the best time to visit Ooty.
How To Reach Ooty
- Being the most popular hill station in the country Ooty is well connected to major cities and towns in South India and reaching it is very easy.
- By Air: Coimbatore International Airport is the nearest airport to Ooty situated at a distance of 90 KM . From the airport, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to Ooty.
- By Train: The nearest major railway station to Ooty is Coimbatore Junction, which is around 85 km away. From Coimbatore junction, you can take a taxi or bus to Ooty.
- By Road: Ooty is well-connected by road to major cities in Tamil Nadu and neighboring states. You can take a bus or hire a taxi from cities like Bangalore, Mysore, Coimbatore, and Chennai.
- By Toy Train: The Nilgiri Mountain Railway, also known as the toy train, is a popular way to reach Ooty. The train runs from Mettupalayam, near Coimbatore, and takes you through scenic landscapes and tea plantations. It is a slow but enjoyable way to reach Ooty.
How Many Days Would Be Enough For Ooty?
The number of days would depend on your agenda. A minimum of 3 days would be needed to enjoy the local tourist attractions of Ooty. But there are many places that are not visited by travelers frequently. So, if you want to explore the offbeat attractions and nearby villages like Kotagiri and Coonoor then 5 days would be the minimum you need.
Ooty Itinerary
Day 1 In Ooty
- Enjoy scenic views at Doddabetta Peak – 8 KM from Ooty
- Explore the Government Botanical Garden – 6 KM from Doddabetta peak
- Boating in Ooty lake – 4 Km from Botanical garden
- Enjoy scenic ride on toy train
- Capture photos at Ketti Valley View Point
- Do some shopping in the Ooty market
Day 2 In Ooty
- Explore beautiful lakes – Avalanche lake, Upper Bhavani lake and Emerald lake
- Pykara Falls
- Toda Village – 5 KM from Ooty
- Halasana Falls – 12 KM from Ooty
- Enjoy the sunset at Tiger Hill
Day 3 In Ooty
- Needle View Hill Point – 40 KM from Ooty
- Explore Coonoor and stay – 20 KM from Ooty
Day 4 In Ooty
- Explore Coonoor and day trip to Kotagiri – 19 KM from Ooty
Day 1 In Ooty
Enjoy Scenic Views At Doddabetta Peak
Starts your day early in the morning with amazing views of the highlands of Mysore and Coimbatore plains from the highest peak of Nilgiri Hills, Doddabetta Peak. Located 8 KM from Ooty, it is a commercialized place which means you can expect a bit of a crowd.
There you can easily spend an hour enjoying the stunning views of the hills, forest and border of Tamil Nadu. There are a few food and tea stalls for refreshing yourself. And don’t miss the ice cream.
- Entry Fee – 6 INR for adults and free for children
Explore the Government Botanical Garden – 6 KM from Doddabetta Peak
Just 6 KM from Doddabetta peak there is another famous sightseeing place named Government Botanical Garden. Spread over an area of 55 acres, Government Botanical Garden is home to thousands of exotic and local plants & trees including hundred species of ferns, groups of flowering plants, herbs, bonsai plants, fruit trees, rare plants and many more.
If you’re visiting Ooty during summer (May) then don’t miss out the Summer Festival which is a flower show in this garden. Overall, it is a great place for nature lovers to spend good time in peace.
- Timing – 7 AM to 6:30 PM
- Entry Fee – 30 INR for adults, 15 INR for Children, 50 INR for taking still camera and 100 INR for taking video camera.
Boating in Ooty lake – 4 KM from Botanical garden
Spread over an area of 65 acres, Ooty lake is an artificial lake that is famous for boating. The primary purpose to built this lake was fishing but with time it becomes a prominent tourist attraction of Ooty. In the summer festival, Ooty lake hosts a boat race that attracts tourists from all around.
Surrounded by the trees of eucalyptus, you can sit here and enjoy a sense of calmness. There are shops around the lake selling herbal oils and local handcrafts including eucalyptus oil and shawls.
- Things to do here – Motor boating, paddle boating, row boating, cycling, horse riding, photography, having fun at an amusement park and enjoying the local food.
- Timing – 9 AM to 6 PM
- Entry Fee – 13 INR per person
- Boating charge – 240 INR for a 2-seater paddle boat, 260 for a 4-seater and 290 for a 6-seater paddle boat.
Enjoy the Scenic Ride of Toy Train
After boating in Ooty lake now it’s time to enjoy the scenic ride of the famed Nilgiri Hill Mountain Railway. A train ride to Coonoor from the Ooty railway station is one of the best things you can do in Ooty. The journey from Ooty to Coonoor will take 1 hour and 15 minutes. During the journey, you’ll get to see the lush green surroundings of western ghats, tea estates, serene lakes, verdant meadows, scenic villages and beautiful tunnels.
Either you can book tickets online on the IRTC website or book tickets through the ticket counter at Ooty railway station which is situated next to the bus stand. But due to the popularity of the toy train tickets get sold out pretty quickly so make sure you stand in front of the queue.
After reaching the Coonoor you can take a cab or bus to reach Ooty back.
- Ticket Price – 205 INR per person in first class, 30 INR per person in second class and 15 INR for the unreserved category.
Capture photos at Ketti Valley View Point
Located on the Ooty Coonoor road just 4 KM from Ooty, the Ketti Valley viewpoint is the best place in Ooty to watch mesmerizing sunsets & sunrise. Often referred to as the Switzerland of South India, Ketti Valley viewpoint provides panoramic views of Ketti Valley which is the largest valley in Nilgiris. There is a telescope room to get a clear view of the valley.
This place is perfect for nature lovers who love to spend time in peace while watching the sunset over the horizon of lush green meadows. The valley is home to many ancient tribes including Todas and Badagas which you’re going to explore on day 2.
Do Some Shopping in Ooty Market
Now it’s time to end day 1 in Ooty with shopping in the Ooty market. Roaming around the bustling market while shopping and eating is the best thing you can do in Ooty after sunset. Essential oils, chocolates, tea, coffee and handcrafts are the best thing you can buy.
Day 2 In Ooty
Explore Beautiful Lakes – Avalanche lake, Upper Bhavani lake and Emerald lake
Start your day 2 in Ooty with the serenity of lakes located around Ooty. Leave early in the morning around 7 AM so you can skip the crowd and have the best time enjoying the scenic beauty of the lakes.
Surrounded by captivating flowers and trees, Avalanche lake is situated at a distance of 21 KM from the Ooty bus stand. After reaching the lake you’ll be awestruck by its sheer elegance, simplicity and grace. This beautiful lake is best to enjoy mountain trekking, rafting, trout fishing, horse riding, rappelling and open jeep riding.
Just 5 KM from Avalanche lake there is another beautiful lake named Emerald lake. Nestled amidst the dense forest, tea estates and mountains this picture-perfect lake is perfect to spend quality time with family and friends. Sitting here while admiring its natural beauty gives you mental peace.
Now it’s time to visit the lesser-known and hidden beauty of Ooty, Upper Bhavani Lake. Prior permission from the forest department is needed to enter the area. It is the most beautiful lake in Ooty so we must recommend to you include this place in Ooty’s itinerary.
To reach the lake first you’ve to reach the forest department office from where you’ll get the jeep or bus which takes you to the Upper Bhavani lake. The entire back & froth journey will take around 2 hour time.
Toda Village – 5 KM from Ooty
Located 5 KM from Ooty, Toad is a beautiful ancient village known for the Toda tribe and Toda huts. Toda huts are small unique huts-type rooms built of bamboo and decorated by the Toda art form. These huts look cute and beautiful. During the visit to this village, you can learn about their culture, food, clothes and a number of things about their community like the Toda tribe wearing homemade shawls and jewelry and their livelihood depends on dairy farming. And the most fascinating thing about this tribe is that their land is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Halasana Falls – 12 KM from Ooty
Gushes from a height of 150 feet, Halasana falls is a beautiful waterfall located on the privately owned property of Kollamuby Estate. To visit these falls you need to take permission from the owner.
The natural beauty of this fall will leave you awestruck especially after reaching the top which gives you a scenic view of the estate.
Enjoy the sunset at Tiger Hill
Day 2 in Ooty will end with mesmerizing sunset from Tiger Hill. Perched at the lower region of Doddabetta peak, Tiger Hill is the perfect place for relaxation in Ooty. At the top of the hill, there is a freshwater reservoir and cave which quenches the thirst of those who come here. There is also a resort that offers the perfect stay.
Day 3 In Ooty
Needle View Hill Point – 40 KM from Ooty
Start your day 3 with the 360-degree view of Nilgiris mountains at Needle View Hill Point. Located in a place called Guddalur on the Ooty-Mysore route, Needle View Hill Point is the place where you can literally touch the clouds. It is also known as the Needle viewpoint or Soochi Malai.
Away from the hustle and bustle of town, it is a perfect place for nature lovers who love to spend time alone.
To reach the top you need to walk for 1 KM. But it’s all worth it as you’ll get the panoramic view of the surrounding mountains, Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary, Bandipur and some parts of Mysore & Kerala.
Explore Coonoor And Stay – 20 KM from Ooty
Your trip to Ooty can’t be complete without visiting Coonoor. After Ooty, Coonoor is the second largest hill station in Nilgiri Hills. Blessed with a subtropical highland climate, Coonoor enjoys pleasant climate throughout the year. The famous toy train of the Nilgiri railway passes through the Coonoor. It will take 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach Coonoor from Ooty via toy train.
Coonoor is home to a wide range of flora & fauna especially various kinds of wildflowers and birds. The unparalleled landscape of Coonoor provides the perfect setting for activities like trekking, hiking, and mountain biking. The abundance of tea plantations makes the surroundings beautiful enough to attract travelers.
Things to do in Coonoor
- Learn about tea processing in detail at Highfield tea factory.
- Enjoy a good time with your family at Sim’s park.
- Explore beautiful waterfalls – Katary falls, Law’s falls, and Catherine falls.
- Enjoy the scenery at Hidden Valley.
Day 4 In Ooty
Explore Coonoor and Day Trip To Kotagiri – 19 KM from Coonoor
After spending a good time in Coonoor now it’s time to explore the 3rd hill station of Nilgiri Hills, Kotagiri. Surrounded by the blue mountains and Shola forests, the natural beauty of Kotagiri will leave you amazed. Even a short drive from Coonoor or Ooty to Kotagiri is magnificent with the fragrance of tea and lush green trees flanking both sides of roads.
The beautiful landscapes of Kotagiri offer a number of opportunities for trekking, hiking and rock climbing. Also, the leisure walks through the tea plantation allow you to watch the locals pluck the tea leaves.
Things to do in Kotagiri
- Trek to Kodanad, Catherine falls and Longwood Shola.
- Watch the splendor of Elk Falls.
- Witness the past of Kotagiri at John Sullivan Memorial.
Where To Stay In Ooty?
Being India’s most renowned hill station Ooty has no dearth of staying options. From a luxurious resort with a private balcony to a campsite away from the city which gives you the nomadic experience or a budget-friendly hostel to engage with minded tourists like you, Ooty has all kinds of accommodations. But choosing accommodation will depend on your agenda, a hotel near the bus stand will give you the option to explore the attraction with ease while a resort away from the bustling city amidst a jungle will give you mental peace. So here we listed the best places to stay in Ooty with the cheapest booking code –
| Hotel Name | Booking Info |
| Fabhotel Sholas Residency | 2300 INR – Book Now |
| Hotel Lake View | 2400 INR – Book Now |
| Accord Highland Ooty | 5000 INR – Book Now |
| Sterling Ooty Elk Hill | 6300 INR – Book Now |
| Hotel Gem Park Ooty | 5500 INR – Book Now |
| La Montana By TGI | 5500 INR – Book Now |
| Coastal Grand Space 4 Resort | 2275 INR – Book Now |
Best Hostels In Ooty
| Hostel Name | Booking Info |
| Zostel | 629 INR – Book Now |
| The Hosteller | 559 INR – Book Now |
| goStops | 671 INR – Book Now |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to visit Ooty?
Yes, Ooty is generally a safe place to visit. The town is well-developed and caters to a large number of tourists throughout the year. The crime rate in Ooty is low. However, you need to take a few things like avoiding climbing the hill after sunset as the region gets dark and the private taxi drivers in Ooty are not safe.
Which are the best places to visit in Ooty?
Doddabetta peak, Ooty, Upper Bhavani Lake, Coonoor, Kotagiri, Government botanical garden, Pykara falls, Nilgiri mountain railway, Murugan temple, Toda village, Ketti valley viewpoint, avalanche lake and Wenlock downs 9th mile shooting point are the best places to visit in Ooty.